Ball-bearing.



`6.1i. MELLIN.

BALL BEARJNG. `APPL|CAT|0N FILED FEB. 2 5. 1914.

`mmmmmmmm :may

WIT SES (E G. E. MELUN.

BALL BEARING,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, |914. 1,179,949. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS 2 sw, /V

-Nmwmwm mill/ WITNESSES BALL-BEARING.

Lirama vSpecicatioers atent. Patented Apr". fgf

Application filed February 26, 1914. lSerial No. 321,125.

' in the ball bearings of a running and steering gear of an auto or other vehicle, the same embodying novel means, including a joint of the order of universal, for imparting rotatable power to a wheel ofthe vehicle, and permitting the turning ofthe same lfor steering purposes.

'litconsists of novel features of construc- I tion-.as will be hereafterdesignated by the claims. v

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the'important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the `running and steering gear of an autovehicle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of a vportion online -m Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a diametrical section .ofa portion on line y-y Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a top or plan'vlew of certain members of the device on a re-` duced scale. ,y

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the gures.

Referring to the drawings:1 designates the driving shaft of the vehicle, and 2 designates av worm which is keyed or otherwise secilred thereto and adapted to mesh with the worm wheel 3, the latter being connected with the section or spindle 4 of the power transmission shaft of the wheel 5, it being noticed that said ysection 4 is connected with.

an auxiliary spindle or section 6 of said shaft by means ofthe member 7, 7 X, of a joint variously named as universal, gimbal, tumbling, flexible, etc., whereby said sec-,

vtion 6 and consequently the wheel 5 may be turned with its bearings for steering purposes, the power of the section 4 may be transmitted to said section. 6 and the wheel 5 to rotate the latter and propel the vehicle. IThe worm wheel 3, worm 2, and portion of the driving shaft 1 are contained, in the casing or housing 8 which is connected with the portion 9 of the frame-or running gear of the vehicle, and -with a bolster to be hereinafter referred to.

Within the housing 8 are the collars 10 which are on opposite sides of the worm -wheel 3, and contain the bearings 11, for the rollers 12, which are adapted to engage with the bearings 13, on the hub 14, of the wormv wheel .3, by' which provision, said wheel will rotate with ease and reduced friction.

The shaft section 4 has its bearings in the bolster 1 5 which extends laterally outward from the housing 8 and is bolted and otherf. wise firmly secured to the latter.

The members 7 of the lmuckle joint are of the form of arms whose terminals are provided `with the boxes 16 within which are mounted the journals of the rock shaft 17 the same `having ball'bearings 18 in said -75 boxes whereby said shaft may rotate-freely 7in said boxes in the turning of the wheel 5 for steering purposes, while said shaft rotates with the member 7 of the joint. Connected with said shaft 17 and crossing the same is a rck shaft 19, whose journals are mounted in boxes 20 on the member 7x of the knuckle lor universal joint,'said member being ofthe form of arms which are keyed or otherwise connected with the end of the section 6 of the power transmission shaft. v

Over the boxes 16 and 20 are the threaded caps `20x which are adaptedto be screwed to the wall of the opening in the member in 'which vthe journals of the rock shafts are received. The inner ends of said boxes are,A

seated on plates 21 while the outer ends of said ,boxes are engaged by said caps 20* whereby the boxes may be held in adjusted ,position on said plates,J the latterand said caps acting as closures for the ends of the;

at l

l' and 19, the shaft that is vertical, turning in the boxes on the respective members 7 orl are bifurcated'so asl to* embrace the caps 20", andthey'are provided with screw bolts, 22 whereby said ends may be clamped.

tightly on the caps, thus consequently connecting the members 7, 7X, with the respeci tive boxes. By loosening the boltsf22 the caps .may be unscrew'ed, whereby access'is had to the boxes -16 and 20to remove ,the

same. coupling fork and its shaft may be detached from the other members of the devicewithout disturbing the same, whilealso permitting the reassembling of saidmparts in a convenient manner. l Stationarily-connected' 'with theouter lterminal of the bolster 15 is the shaft bearing 23, which is formed in sections 24 andA 25,'A

the inner ends whereof, meet and are connected by the bolts 26 which are in a line centered with the rock shaft, so that the section 25 may turn on saidy bolts in harmony with said rock shaft, when the latter is brought into vertical position by the rotation of the knuckle or universal joint mem'- ber 7, it being noticejtthat the shaft section '6 is mounted inthe sleeve 27 which is firmly.

connected with the housing section.25, the latter having connected with it thel member 28 which is attached to the steering mechanism lof the vehicle., whereby when said member 28 is operated, the housing section 25y moves with it. This communicates motion to the joint member 7 and the rock shafts 17 7X, but the runnin of the shaft section 6 is not interferehiwit as the shaft section 4f rotates the jointmember 7, thel rock shafts 17 and'19, and c'onsequently said shaft secf tion 6,: regardless of the 'change 1n the angle of said section 6, occasioned by the steering, it being noticed-that' in steer- 4. ing',` said rock ,shafts assume alternately vertical and horizontal lpositionsand when either of said rock shafts is in the verti'- cal position,; ,the same will turn in its boxes on the ,respective members 7 or 7", due to ltheV steering motion imparted to the wheel byl the shaft section 6, A and section 25 /of the housing which latter receives its` motion Ifrom the steering member 28, ashas been stated.

The outer end ofthe shaft'section 6 has connected with it, the cap 29, which 1s fitted to the outer. end of the hub 30 ofthe wheel 5, and has lugs 31 radiating therefrom, the same entering slots 32 in said hub thus interlocking said cap with said hub whereby the motion of said shaft section is imparted to Said cap and consequently to the wheel 5 and thus the runnin of the latter is occasioned.

The cap is--retamed in place bythe nut 33, which is screwed to the section 6, and

tightensl against said cap.

Interposed between the sleeve or bearing Then the wheel'with the universal Y {71,179,949, i i f 27 ofthe shaft section 6 and the hub 30`of i the wheel 5 are the rollers 34 and bearings 35 therefor, thus assisting the wheel to rotate with ease andlless friction, and support the same steadily on the sleeve or bearing 27. l The'outerhub of the Wheel has connected with it'thechambered nut 36 for'closing and covering the `parts within lthe same to prevent dust, dirt, etc. reaching said parts. In order to provide convenient access to the interior of the housing 8, and consequently to thegearing 2, 3, and other members therein, I form the walls of said housing `of separatesections 37, 38, the section 38 being integral with the portion 9 of the frame, and

the' bolster 15', the sections being firmlyv connected by the bolts 39 and suitable nuts therein, the efect of which is evident.

lThe bearing rings or boxes 16 of the ball bearing e'ach embody two rings one'within the other, each having an annular offset and the two rings oppositely disposed so'as to hold the balls 18 in position. The same is true of the boxes said Fig. 2.

20, as will be seen fromy i Having thus described my invention what I claim, as new and desire' to secure. by Letstated, a rotatable member, the same having a journal thereon, a plate at the baseof said journal, aboxy surrounding'said journal and Yadapted to be supported on said-plate, balls between the sections of said bo Nan annular clamping member, a cap ada ted to be screwedyto said clamping member to engage'- one of the sectionsof said boxv and cover said journal, said. rotatable member being formed with a bifurcation which is adapted to embrace said cap, and a bolt in the terminal of said bifurcation adapted to tighten said bifurcation on said cap.

3. In a running gear of the character lstated, a rotatable member having a journal, concentric rings around said journal, bear-- ingykballs between-Said rings, a box, a cap 'fitted over'said box, a member Within one arm'of which said'box is supported,a cap over-said box and threaded to-'the Wall of an opening in the member-in which the journal of said shaft is received, and a plate on which the inner end of said box is seated.

4. In' a running'v gear'of the, character 2. In a running gear of` the character stated, a rotatable member having a journal, interposed between the outermost ring and a plate surrounding said journal, a box' the inner face of said threaded ring and composed of concentric rings with oppohaving engagement With the latter.

sitely disposed annular shoulders, bearing GEORGE EINAR MELLIN. 5 balls between said rings and conned be- Witnesses:

tween said shoulders, an internally threaded JOHN A. VVIEDERSHEIM,

ring and a cap having a threaded flange N. BUSSINGER. 

